Reflector



May 5, @331;

M. B. SPREGG REFLECTOR Filed Aug. 11 1928 Wmw Patented May .5, 1931 MELVIN B. SPRIGG, OF WESTON, WEST VIRGINIA REFLECTOR Application filed August 11, 1928. Serial No. 299,093.

The present invention relates to reflectors and while more especially intended for use as road and vehicle signs to indicate danger, is also well adapted for use as a display sign in store windows and the like.

One of the primary objects of the invention resides in the provision of a reflector lens whichis simple and inexpensive in construction and yet which so reflects the light proj ected upon it as to be seed at a much greater distance than lenses now in general use.

A further object of the invention consists in the provision of a reflector which utilizes colored glass discs, whereby a variety of different colors may be employed in a single unit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings; in which a Figure l is a front elevation of a sign embodying the present invention, parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational View of the glass plate as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure' ls is a sectional view taken on line, 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a rear elevational View of a slightly modified construction of lens; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and especially to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the numeral 1 designates a wooden frame in which the display sign or signal is mounted, and is provided with a backing 2 and a locking means 3 of any preferred type. It will be understood also that this frame may be made of metal, celluloid, or other desired material and may take any convenient form desired.

Mounted within the frame 1 a transparent glass plate 4 which is provided with :1 raised'or embossed portion 5 in the form of a letter or other design, as for example, T, A, or the like. Integrally cast with the plate 4 and raised portion 5 are a plurality of rounded knobs or lenses 6 which are here shown as arranged in the form of the letters T and A. In the rear of the plate 4 and directly in line with the knobs 6 are circular depressions each of which is substantially coextensive in area with the knobs. Mounted within each of the depressions and secured therein by cement or the like are circular glassdiscs 7. These discs are formedof colored glass and it will be apparent that all of the discs may be of a single color or a variety of colors may be employed where it is desired to Erovide a pleasing or striking effect.

ehind the plate 4 and the attached discs 7 is placed a mirror or other reflecting surface 8 adapted to reflect back through the lenses 6 any light which may be projected onto the front of the sign. The reflected light through the discs 7 will, of course, assume the color or colors of the discs, while the reflected light returning through the other portions of the plate 4 will be a plain white. v y

In this connection it should be noted that theportions of the plate 4 which are beyond the borders of the symbols formed thereon,

as for instance, that portion of the plate bethe beam in intensified form will appear in colors the letter, word or other indicia as represented by the arrangement of the lenses 6.

In Figures 5 and 6 a slightly modified form of the inventionis shown in which lenses "of relatively large radius are employed. This embodiment of the invention is provided with rearwardly projected knobs or extensions 21 which are in alignment with the lenses 20, and are of sufiicient depth to take care of theextra focal length-of the lenses. Colored glass discs 22 are provided for eachlens 20 .as well as individual reflecting surfaces 23, and these parts may be held in assembled relation by means of metal caps or the like 25 which engage about the exterior of the knobs 21. In other respects this form of the invention is practically identical with that shown in Figures 1 to 4-:inclusive.

The plates 4 with the lenses thereon may be cast or molded as an entire unit or may be formed in a plurality-of sections, each section, for instance, taking the form of a letter of the alphabet. Such a method of production tends to low cost of manufacture,

and this low cost also extends to the method in which the colorin is applied to the reflected light, namely,% y the insertion of colored glass discs 7 in the recesses formed in "the rear of the plate 4. Furthermore, a sign of the appended claims.

- What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a glass plate formed witha recess in the rear side thereof, an integral lens formed on the opposite'side of said plate and in alignment with the recess, a .disc of colored translucentmaterial secured in said recess, and a reflecting element positioned behind said disc.

2. In a device of the class described, a glass plate, a plurality'of lenses formed on one side of said plate and arranged in the form of a symbol, discs of colored translucent material disposed on the opposite side of said plate and in alignment with said lenses, and a reflecting element operatively associated with said lenses.

3. In a device of the class described, a glass plate, a plurality of lenses formed on one side of said plate and arranged in the form I 'of a symbol, cylindrical recesses formed on the opposite side of said plate and in align- Eeflecting element mounted behind said 1scs.

4. In a device of the class described, a glass plate, a raised or embossed portion on one side of said plate in the form of a letter or other symbol, a plurality of lenses formed on said embossed portion, cylindrical recesses formed on the opposite side of said plate in alignment with the-respective lenses, a, disc of colored glass disposed in each recess, and a reflecting element mounted behind said discs. I MELVIN B. SPRIGG.

ment with the respective lenses, a disc of colored glass disposed in each recess, and a 

